__________________________________________________________________________ Lancashire Record Office: What’s in it for Blackpool? Contents Lancashire Record Office Who we are and what we do……………………… 2 Information for planning a ………………………... 3-4 Online access and contact details……………...... 5 Introduction to this guide ……………............................ 6 Maps …………………….…………..…………………….... 7-9 Aerial photographs ………………………………………. 9 Photographs and illustrations ..………………………… 10 Blackpool archive collections Blackpool Collections…………………………..... 11 Blackpool Library Collection ……………………... 12 Smaller collections………………………………… 11 Local Businesses and Organisations Business records …………..…..………………...... 16 Clubs and Societies .………………..…………….. 17 Trade Unions …………..…..…………………….... 18 Official Records Local Government Lancashire County Council ……………………... 19 Blackpool County Borough Council ..………….. 20-22 Urban District Councils …………………………... 23 Rural District Councils …………………………... 23 Parish and Town Councils ……………………… . 23 Electoral registers .………………………………………... 24-25 Courts Quarter Sessions ……………………………….... 26-27 Petty Sessions and Magistrates ………………... 28 Coroners ………………………………………….. 28 Police …………………………………………………….... 29 Water Board ……………………………………………..... 29 Probate …………………………………..………………... 30 Education ………………………………………………..... 31-34 Hospitals……. ……….………………………………….... 35-36 Poor Law ………….………………………………………. 37 1910 Finance Act records.............................................. 38 Insurance Committees................................................... 38 Motor Vehicle Licensing................................................. 38 Church Records 39 Church of England church registers……………. 40 Roman Catholic church registers……………….. 42 Nonconformist church registers.....……………... 42 North West Sound Archive …………………………..... 44 Blackpool Local and Family History Centre ............... 45 1 __________________________________________________________________________ Lancashire Record Office: What’s in it for Blackpool? Lancashire Record Office: who we are and what we do Lancashire Record Office is a countywide service provided by Lancashire County Council, Blackburn with Darwen Borough Council and Blackpool Borough Council. We collect, preserve, and provide access to, and promote the archival heritage of Lancashire, including Blackpool. The Record Office holds tens of thousands of historic documents which help tell the story of Blackpool, and the people who lived there, from the medieval period up to the present day. These archives are the building blocks of history. They are records produced by and for individuals and organisations in the course of their day to day activities and, as unique documents, are preserved because of their value as historic evidence. In many cases the information in these documents cannot be found anywhere else. The archives are stored in acid-free boxes and folders in climatically controlled strongrooms in the Record Office so that these unique volumes and documents are preserved in the best conditions to ensure that they survive for future generations to use and enjoy. The searchroom in Preston provides free public access to the archive collections. Staff help visitors to find the material they need for research and can assist in reading and interpreting the information. Staff will always try to help people who cannot visit in person to make the most of the information we hold. The conservation workshop, where a team works behind the scenes to ensure that documents are preserved in the best possible condition. 2 __________________________________________________________________________ Lancashire Record Office: What’s in it for Blackpool? Visiting Lancashire Record Office Admission Admission is free, and everyone is welcome. There is no advance booking system but a reader's ticket is required for access to original documents. We provide direct public access to the archive collections in accordance with our Preservation Policy , our Access Policy, Access Standard, Searchroom Rules and relevant legislation Our policies and standards can be seen on our website, or you can contact us for copies: www.archives.lancashire.gov.uk Opening hours Monday 9am - 5pm Tuesday 9am - 8.30pm Wednesday 9am - 5pm Thursday 10am - 5pm Friday 9am - 5pm Saturday We are usually open on the second Saturday of each month from 10am - 4pm Holidays The Record Office is closed on all English Bank Holidays (and on two other days at Christmas and New Year): • New Year (usually 1 January) • Good Friday (date varies) • Easter Monday (date varies) • First Monday in May • Last Monday in May • Last Monday in August • Christmas Day and Boxing Day Our searchroom, where original documents can be consulted and staff are on hand to help you with your research. 3 __________________________________________________________________________ Lancashire Record Office: What’s in it for Blackpool? Disabled Access All public rooms, including the searchroom, are situated on the first floor but there is an accessible lift for those who find stairs difficult to use. Disabled parking is available onsite, and there are also accessible toilets. There is a loop system to assist people with a hearing impairment, and text enhancement facilities for people who find it difficult to read some of the archival material. On Arrival Please check in at reception and sign the visitors' book to acknowledge that you accept the rules of the service. You will be asked to use the lockers provided for all your bags and belongings, except the paper and pencils you require for working. Lockers accept a £1 coin, which is refunded. Please note that only pencils are allowed for writing in the searchroom. Reader's Ticket Lancashire Record Office belongs to the County Archive Research Network (CARN) which requires you to produce a reader's ticket when you enter and leave the searchroom. This is a security measure to help protect the irreplaceable archives. If you do not have a ticket issued by one of the participating offices in the Network, we can issue one free of charge when you visit the Record Office. You will need to produce official evidence of your name, address and signature (e.g. driving licence, or credit/debit card accompanied by a bank statement, utility bill or other official communication with your address printed). The ticket is valid for four years and can be used in about forty record offices around the country. Searchroom Facilities There are 36 seats available, plus larger tables for maps. There are also 40 microfilm/fiche readers, and 4 public access PCs, 3 of which are linked to the People's Network and available for free internet use. You may bring a laptop and connect to the LCC free Wi-Fi hot spot, but its use is at your own risk. Self-scanning of documents is not permitted, but the Record Office offers a range of copying facilities and you may also arrange to take your own photographs for private study. Our copying policy can be seen on our website. Lancashire Local Studies reference collection Thousands of books, pamphlets and articles about Lancashire are also available to use in our searchroom and are all catalogued on the Lancashire Library online catalogue: http://www.lancashire.gov.uk/libraries Refreshment Facilities The public tearoom offers a water dispenser and a hot drink machine as well as space to eat a packed lunch. Several pubs, shops, and a range of eating places in Preston City Centre are 5-10 minutes' walk away. 4 __________________________________________________________________________ Lancashire Record Office: What’s in it for Blackpool? Online access and contact details Visit our website: http://www.lancashire.gov.uk/education/record_office/index.asp Many of the catalogues giving details of our archive collections can be searched online through: the Access to Archives website http://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/a2a/ the Record Office’s online catalogue, Lancat: Enquiries http://www.lancashire.gov.uk/education/record_office/services/catalogue.asp If you want to ask whether a particular type of record is held at the Record Office: Email: [email protected] Write to: The County Archivist Lancashire Record Office Bow Lane PRESTON Lancashire PR1 2RE You will receive a written response within 10 working days. Phone: +44(0)1772 533039 Fax: +44(0) 1772 533050 Please email or write if you are interested in obtaining a copy of a specific document. 5 __________________________________________________________________________ Lancashire Record Office: What’s in it for Blackpool? A guide to archive collections for Blackpool This guide aims to show the range of archive material relating to Blackpool which is held in Lancashire Record Office. It is not a comprehensive list of sources. There is material relating to the area in many other collections in the Record Office. New accessions of archives arrive at the Record Office several times each week and our ongoing cataloguing programme continues to make material more accessible. Arrangement and Catalogue references Records are arranged to reflect who created them, where they were produced and what they were originally used for, so not all types of records cover all areas. All the archives which have been fully catalogued are given a unique reference number which identifies each item or bundle and helps us to find it on the 8 miles of shelves in the record office strongrooms. Please note that the references given in this guide are not usually the full catalogue references which you will need to request documents